Shorter Pulsed Laser Found Safe for Hair Removal
A new study reports that a laser that delivers energy pulses shorter than those currently considered standard practice is effective and safe for hair removal. The study appears in a recent issue of the Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy.
Laser pulse duration is believed to be an important factor in the safety and efficacy of laser treatments. Studies have generally found that although longer pulses are safer for darker skin, shorter pulses tend to be better at removing hair. Fluence, or energy level, is also important. Generally, the higher a laser’s fluency, which is measured in joules per square centimeter (J/cm2), the longer-lasting the treatment
This new study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of a shorter pulsed, 0.65 ms Nd:YAG laser. Six women were recruited. Using a Nd:YAG laser with a wavelength of 1064 nm and a pulse duration of 0.65 milliseconds, each woman had one-half of each underarm treated. The other half of the underarm was left untreated as a control. The laser fluence used on the treated areas was either 21 J/cm2 or 36 J/cm2. The women received 4 monthly treatment sessions. A manual hair count was conducted before each session and at a 4-month follow-up visit.
The results: At the four-month follow-up, there was a 75% to 100% reduction in hair on the high-fluence treated areas and a 50% to 75% reduction on the low- fluence areas. The average hair count declined 76% on the high-fluence areas and 72% on the low-fluence areas.
“This well-controlled study shows that a 0.65 ms ND:YAG laser is effective and safe for hair removal,” the authors concluded.
Source: Khatri KA, Lee RA, Goldberg LJ, Khatri B, Garcia V. Efficacy and safety of a 0.65 millisecond pulsed portable Nd:YAG laser for hair removal. J Cosmet Laser Ther. 2009. Feb 6:1-6. [Epub ahead of print]
Laser pulse duration is believed to be an important factor in the safety and efficacy of laser treatments. Studies have generally found that although longer pulses are safer for darker skin, shorter pulses tend to be better at removing hair. Fluence, or energy level, is also important. Generally, the higher a laser’s fluency, which is measured in joules per square centimeter (J/cm2), the longer-lasting the treatment
This new study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of a shorter pulsed, 0.65 ms Nd:YAG laser. Six women were recruited. Using a Nd:YAG laser with a wavelength of 1064 nm and a pulse duration of 0.65 milliseconds, each woman had one-half of each underarm treated. The other half of the underarm was left untreated as a control. The laser fluence used on the treated areas was either 21 J/cm2 or 36 J/cm2. The women received 4 monthly treatment sessions. A manual hair count was conducted before each session and at a 4-month follow-up visit.
The results: At the four-month follow-up, there was a 75% to 100% reduction in hair on the high-fluence treated areas and a 50% to 75% reduction on the low- fluence areas. The average hair count declined 76% on the high-fluence areas and 72% on the low-fluence areas.
“This well-controlled study shows that a 0.65 ms ND:YAG laser is effective and safe for hair removal,” the authors concluded.
Source: Khatri KA, Lee RA, Goldberg LJ, Khatri B, Garcia V. Efficacy and safety of a 0.65 millisecond pulsed portable Nd:YAG laser for hair removal. J Cosmet Laser Ther. 2009. Feb 6:1-6. [Epub ahead of print]
posted by DrHr at 6:36 PM
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